SAMBALPUR: Festive mood is picking up in the city for the three-day Sital Sasthi Yatra scheduled to begin from June 17 with Nandapada committee performing ‘Patra Pendi’ rituals of Balunkeswar Baba on Wednesday night.
The Sital Sasthi Yatra is celebrated to mark the divine marriage of Lord Shiva with his consort Goddess Parvati. The marriage of the divine couple will be held on June 17, while the homecoming procession of the divine couple will begin on June 18 night. It will culminate with the entry of the divine couple into the temple on June 19 afternoon.
While ‘Patra Pendi’ (engagement ceremony) of Balunkeswar Baba was performed on Wednesday night, that of Loknath Baba in Jharuapada and Jageswar Baba in Mudipada will be held on Friday evening.
Similarly, ‘Nrusingha Niyuta’, also known as Deba Nimantran (invitation to different temples of the locality), ritual of Balunkeswar Baba will be performed on Thursday while that of Loknath Baba and Jageswar Baba will be held on Saturday.
Streets are buzzing with activities. Besides, roadside eateries are attracting people and crowd can be seen along the main road of the city with people devouring roadside food till late evening. Mina bazaar with its variety of joy rides is operating at PHED Ground in Ainthapali and near Charbati and adding to fervour of the annual gala event. This apart, a seven-day State-level handicraft exhibition will be inaugurated at PHED Ground on Thursday evening.
On the other hand, artistes are working overtime to complete the backdrop of the chariot of the divine couple and tableau on social and mythological issues which will be displayed during the procession.
The city is going to witness a gathering of lakhs of people during the main festivity which spreads over three days. Considering the huge turnout, 32 platoons of police force would be deployed across the city for smooth completion of the festival.